Russia 'Close' to Joining Forces with US on Aleppo: Minister

Opposition fighters drive a tank in the Al-Huweiz area on the outskirts of Aleppo as they battle to break the government seige on the northen Syrian city on August 2, 2016. (Omar Haj Kadour/AFP)
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Agence France Presse

Russia is close to joining forces with the United States around Syria's ravaged second city of Aleppo, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said in comments aired Monday.

"Step by step we are getting closer to the situation in which -- and I'm only speaking about Aleppo here -- we will be able to begin battling together so that there is peace on this territory," Shoigu told Rossiya 24 television.

In the interview conducted on Saturday but shown only Monday, Shoigu said Moscow is in close negotiations regarding the city, where Russian planes and regime forces are battling rebels for control.

Shoigu said Moscow and Washington are still deeply at odds over the situation in Aleppo, accusing rebels of holding civilians hostage and waging brutal suicide bombings.